Etowah commission approves budget

The Etowah County Commission approved a $37.5 million budget in a special called meeting thursday.  The budget  includes a 2.5 percent pay increase for employees, , Chief administrative officer.Patrick Simms said the raise will reflect a step increase for classified employees and be a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment for non-classified employees.  Simms said the cost of health insurance for employees increased by 5 percent, but the commission will absorb the increase in the budget and not pass it on to employees.  Simms said some of the figures in the budget are not set in stone. He said he expects a 3 percent to 5 percent increase in sales tax revenue and a slight increase in property tax revenue next year.